After years without a full-length release, NOLA’s most famous sludge sons Eyehategod are back with a new, self-titled full-length, and it’s as if they’ve never been away. You would have thought that these miscreants from New Orleans might have mellowed with age (even just slightly), but they still sound as pissed off as ever.

Much has happened since the release of Confederacy of Ruined Lives, their last studio album was released in 2000. Singer Mike Williams suffered legal and drug problems, the devastating storm of Katrina disrupted and displaced band members, guitarists Jimmy Bower and Brian Patton involved themselves with their other bands (namely Down and Soilent Green respectively), and most recently and tragically founding member and drummer Joey LaCaze passed away.

They’ve had several years on the road to hone these new songs – I saw them in Leeds, England in 2010 and it was about as erratic and authentic as this kind of music gets – Mike Williams handed me the microphone for the chorus of “Sisterfucker” and a few minutes later a shard of glass from a bottle he smashed nearly took my eye out.

On to the new album – so, sonically it’s pretty similar to the ones which made the band one of the most influential in the NOLA sludge scene in the early 90’s – however in no way does it sound forced or dated. Williams has appeared to make a conscious effort to make his lyrics more intelligible – trying to decipher words from albums such as Dopesick was a challenge to say the least. This change is welcome in my eyes, as the man’s neo-Bukowski/Burrows rants are something to be savoured. Songs like “Trying to Crack the Hard Dollar” are bona fide classics that are sure to remain on the setlist for years, and “Parish Motel Sickness” has one of the best choruses the band has written.

The release of Eyehategod is sure to open up the band to a whole new audience, and as well as being a fantastic album in its own right it will serve as a gateway for not only the band’s formidable back catalogue, but may turn people onto other excellent Louisiana bands such as Acid Bath and Crowbar.

[Visit the band's website]

---

Comments